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“… Gilman’s writing was in turns lush and harsh, spare and bountiful almost mirroring the contrast between East and West, acceptance and rejection, celebration and despair. This was a story which took my imagination on a trip while also leaving me with things to ponder and mull over. I have a feeling elements will distinctly remain with me for quite a while because it isn’t a light-hearted read, yet not dark and depressing; more contemplative or introspective…. Gilman showcased a different aspect of her writing ability and put a significant amount of character development into a single novella without making it seem onerous or superficial.

While I’m sad that RED WATERS RISING didn’t make the final ballot for fantasy novel, my joy in TUBS, as we affectionately call it, making the final ballot for “best anthology” Locus Award has me doing a happy writer chair-dance.

This wasn’t a traditional anthology – our editors didn’t ‘acquire’ us, no publisher made any decisions for us. Tiffany and Stephanie were our editors, and our fearless leaders, but this was very much a group effort, with everyone putting a shoulder to the wheel. It was a project of excitement, of creativity, and of joy. And it was, hands down, the best anthology experience I’ve ever had.

And if you haven’t read the stories yet, you’re in luck – what was supposed to be a limited engagement was held over by the nomination, and you can still enter the Ballroom….

For those who asked, and those who were still at the wondering-not-asking stage, my advice on the reading order for the (currently-in-print) books of the Devil’s West:

Yes, you can read GABRIEL’S ROAD without having read the trilogy. I personally would suggest reading it after, for the nuances and questions-answered, but it’s not essential. Everything you need to know is there.

You can read WEST WINDS’ FOOL before or after or as a pauses in-between any of the books. Reading the stories before will give you more understanding of the Territory -but reading it after may give you jolts of recognition and realization.

But I am delighted (and relieved) to be able to announce, officially, that GABRIEL’S ROAD will be published April 30th, 2019! And I think it was totally worth the wait.

Most folk in the Territory never think about the magic around them. They’ve never encountered a magician, fought a spell-beast, or bargained with the devil.

Gabriel Kasun is not most folk.

And the Territory – and his own destiny – isn’t quite done with him yet.…

“Wonderful and beautifully written… Fate creeps up on Gabriel with the inexorability of the rising tide in this insightful, character-driven addition to Gilman’s Devil’s West series. Old readers will be delighted with the revelation of hinted-at secrets, and new readers will be intrigued and want more.” – C.E. Murphy, author of THE WALKER PAPERS and REDEEMER

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Friday night, I realized that it was the yahrzeit (anniversary) of my father’s death three years ago (he died on April 8th, but Jewish observances run on the lunar calendar, so things can catch you off guard).

So the weekend started on a somber note, which may have been why the weekend also brought the realization that CatofSize (aka ‘the old man’) now only has a few really alert hours in the day (mostly before 6am). It’s not surprising – this month marks his 16th birthday (observed) and he may actually be a little older. But that, combined with the appearance of joint stiffness in his hips and legs, and a decreased appetite, was a reminder that we’re not given unlimited time with our animal companions.

He’s still content and comfortable, but there will come a morning when he doesn’t come in to cuddle up on me before I’m ready to be awake, or an afternoon he doesn’t make like a furry shark asking for a snack when I come home. This is inevitable; there’s no snooze button on this clock.

So I’m making an extra effort to give him time in the morning, just the two of us. And I’m also making an extra effort to give the Kitten of Thursday more time in the evening. Because CatofSize has been a constant in his life for 6 years, and he’s aware that Something’s Wrong. And when the time comes, he and I will have to comfort each other.

Anyway, I don’t really have a Lesson to Impart here, except that I’m looking out my window and seeing the trees blooming, looking at my desk and seeing tulips and daffodils in the vase, and being reminded that everything has its cycle. There’s nothing we can do to change that, and I’m not sure we should even if we can.

Love is delicate. Life is finite. Make good decisions. Cherish the purrs, and then let them go.

Western Washington is currently experiencing a bit of a WTFkery – two major snowfalls within ten days. I may mock my neighbors’ confusion and lack of basic storm gear (seriously, people; buy a shovel. And use it. Half-assing clearing your sidewalk or driveway just creates a melt-and-freeze scenario that’s not good for anyone), but since the roads tend to be in the same half-ass-cleared condition, and over hills to boot… yeah, it gets unfriendly out there. Better to stay home, make French toast, and sleep until it’s over.

Or, if you’re on deadline, make a pot of cafe mocha and biscotti, and write until it’s safe to go outside again.

Which is what I’ve been doing, which is why there are three new things cued to release for my Patreon (the final installment of #damnitFran, the first intallment of The Mom Project, and the first serial installment of my fanfic-into-fiction), making it a really good time to join!

We’re also making serious headway into the production of the print edition of WEST WINDS’ FOOL (huzzah!) and getting the three stories of DUCHESS, PI up for sale.

What’s Duchess, PI, you ask? Sign up for my newsletter and find out first (and the first taste for free!)!

And, for those of you who like Ask Me Anythings, or just want the chance to seriously put me on the spot, I’ll be doing an r/fantasy AMA as part of the Pixel Project on Thursday, February 14th! Drop your Qs and I’ll make up some As!

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